Why do English language students choose Portsmouth?
Portsmouth is a lively and historic university city by the seaside. It has lots to suit different tastes and interests, making it a great city in which to learn English. Our English language school is right in the heart of the vibrant university area. Portsmouth is also well-situated to visit London, which is just 90 minutes away by train, and is approximately 75 minutes from both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport and only 20 minutes from Southampton Eastleigh Airport.
Portsmouth is home to some incredible music festivals throughout the year and, with a student population of over 20,000, there’s always something happening here. If you prefer something more cultural, there are several concert halls, theatres and a contemporary art gallery nearby. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and Conan Doyle wrote his first Sherlock Holmes stories here and there are two museums about them here in the city.
Southsea is the cultural and social hub of Portsmouth and is where most of our homestay families are located. Southsea Common (the huge green park in the picture, by the sea) is perfect for playing football, enjoying barbeques with friends, walking or jogging by the seaside and is also home to our popular skate park.
Southsea also has a 500-year-old castle, with a café and restaurant inside, which hosts lots of parties and events throughout the year. Southsea has miles of pebble beaches and, in the summer, you’ll often find our students swimming in the sea!
Gunwharf Quays is the perfect place to relax after a hard day of studying! It’s filled with over 90 designer shopping outlets, bowling alleys, a multi-screen cinema, more than 30 bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as popular student nightclubs. All of this is overlooked by the iconic Spinnaker Tower (pictured) where, from the viewing deck, you can enjoy views across the whole city, including ‘Old Portsmouth’, which, as the name suggests, is the oldest part of the city.
This is the ideal place to enjoy fish and chips whilst watching ships pass through the harbour. It’s also home to the Historic Dockyard, where you can learn about Portsmouth’s rich naval history and visit its three historic ships: HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose.
